# Varied Bunting

*Passerina versicolor*

The male's striking colors are structural; in shade, he appears dark and drab, but direct sunlight reveals a brilliant cocktail of red, plum, and blue.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Cardinalidae › Passerina
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** desert
- **Habitat:** Desert scrub, arid thorn-forests, canyon bottoms, and riparian thickets.
- **Diet:** Insects, seeds, and small desert fruits (such as cactus fruit).
- **Range:** Southwestern United States, Mexico, Guatemala
- **Size:** Length: 11-14 cm, Wingspan: 21 cm, Weight: 11-13 g
- **Lifespan:** 4-6 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat destruction, brush clearing, and nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds.
- **Safe to approach?:** This species is entirely harmless and easily startled. Observe from a respectful distance of 15-20 feet using binoculars to prevent nest abandonment. If you find an injured individual, contact a local licensed avian rehabilitator immediately.

## About

The varied bunting ( Passerina versicolor ) is a species of songbird in the cardinal family, Cardinalidae.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/1d0a941e-fff2-436f-90cc-9f331826843f
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/10228
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passerina versicolor
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/298941278/medium.jpg (Cole Wolf, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.